You asked, we answered

Service Vaughan answers the top five resident questions received in May

Have a question about a service in Vaughan? Want to know more about the City of Vaughan’s programs? The Service Vaughan team of agents is standing by ready to respond to your inquiries. The City’s contact centre can be reached by phone at 905-832-2281 (toll-free: 1-844-832-2112), email at service@vaughan.ca or in-person at Vaughan City Hall (2141 Major Mackenzie Dr.).

Every month, the City releases a series called ‘You Asked, We Answered,’ where common questions received and responded to by Service Vaughan are highlighted.

Below are the top five inquiries from May:

1. When do the City’s splashpads open?

All 20 of the City’s splashpads are open daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., subject to weather and surface conditions.

Find a splashpad near you:

Ward 1

• Crieff Parkette (45 Crieff Ave.)
• Mackenzie Glen District Park (220 Cranston Park Ave.)
• Maple Airport Park (121 Avro Rd.)
• Maple Lions Park (350 Cunningham Dr.)
• Melville Park (201 Melville Ave.)
• Secord Park (15 Secord Ave.)

Ward 2

• Father Bulfon Park (199 Forest Dr.)
• Mapes Park (190 Mapes Ave.)
• McClure Meadows Park (8921 Martin Grove Rd.)
• Sonoma Heights Community Park (100 Sunset Ridge)
• Vaughan Mills Park (601 Vaughan Mills Rd.)

Ward 3

• Anthony Locilento Park (351 Velmar Dr.)
• Chancellor District Park (430 Chancellor Dr.)
• Chatfield District Park (100 Lawford Rd.)
• Matthew Park (1 Villa Royale Ave.)

Ward 4

• North Thornhill Community Centre (300 Pleasant Ridge Ave.)

Ward 5

• Concord/Thornhill Regional Park (299 Racco Pkwy.)
• Dufferin District Park (1441 Clark Ave. W.)
• Wade Gate Park (151 Wade Gate)
• Thornhill Green Par (19 Beverly Glen Blvd.) 

For more information, including maps of the splashpad locations, visit vaughan.ca/splashpads.

2. Are the City’s gazebos available to book?

Yes! You can now reserve a gazebo at five City-operated parks online at vaughan.perfectmind.com.

Locations include:

• Chatfield District Park (100 Lawford Rd.)
• Doctors Mclean District Park (8100 Islington Ave.)
• Mackenzie Glen District Park (220 Cranston Park Ave.)
• Maxey Park (181 Willis Rd.)
• Sonoma Heights Community Park (100 Sunset Ridge)

Bookings are available 10 to 90 days in advance for a three-to-nine-hour timeslot. The fee for a gazebo reservation is $48.32 per hour for residents and $53.69 per hour for non-residents (excluding tax), with an additional required insurance fee of $28.05. All bookings also require a $300 security deposit that will be refunded in full after your event.

If you require assistance creating an account or booking your outdoor picnic online for the first time, email rec@vaughan.ca or call Service Vaughan at 905-832-2281.

For more information about facility rentals, visit vaughan.ca/recreation.

3. When does leaf and yard waste collection take place?

The City’s leaf and yard waste collection takes place weekly in the spring and fall, and every other week in the summer on your regularly scheduled collection day. Bi-weekly collection will begin the week of June 13 or June 20, depending on your collection day.

Place your materials at the curb no earlier than 6 p.m. the night before and no later than 7 a.m. on your scheduled collection day. If the forecast calls for inclement weather overnight – like strong winds or heavy rain – wait to place your materials out in the morning.

Leaf and yard waste must be placed out in Kraft paper bags or open-top rigid containers with handles, up to 121 litres (32 gallons) in size, and clearly marked “Leaf and Yard Waste.” Plastic bags are not permitted. Kraft paper bags must be kept dry – wet or degraded bags cannot be picked up as they will break during collection.

Visit the City’s leaf and yard waste webpage for more information.

4. How can I register my kids for summer camps or recreation programs?

Registration for the City’s summer camps and programs is well underway and spots are limited, so visit vaughan.perfectmind.com to book your child’s spot today!

Take a peek at the Summer Recreation eGuide for a variety of programs for residents of all ages and abilities. Highlights include:

• Family (parent and child): dance, toddler playtime, bootcamp and outdoor mindfulness, including toddler yoga, nature play and sing-alongs
• Preschool: drawing, dance, basketball, taekwondo, outdoor mindfulness, STEM, Vaughan Playschool kindergarten readiness summer program, and reading and writing specialty
• Children: taekwondo, drawing, basketball, volleyball, tennis, archery, robotics and web development
• Youth: taekwondo, computer programming and a volunteer leadership program that leads to recreation volunteer positions at Vaughan community centres
• Adult: yoga, badminton, tennis, pickleball, a Vaughan Sports Volleyball League and new backyard pool safety clinics
• Older adult: muscle conditioning, yoga and tai chi
• Inclusion: day programs for adults with disabilities featuring bocce, bowling, cooking, social games, swimming and exercising in a fitness centre

If you require assistance creating an online registration account or registering, call Service Vaughan at 905-832-2281, email rec@vaughan.ca or visit your local community centre.

For more information about summer camps and recreation programs, visit vaughan.ca/recreation.

5. What outdoor events is the City hosting this summer?

From Canada Day celebrations to Concerts in the Park, there is lots of fun to be had outdoors. You can attend these free, family-friendly events and enjoy summer in Vaughan! A few upcoming events include:

• June is Parks and Recreation Month flag-raising: Wednesday, June 14 from noon to 1 p.m. at Vaughan City Hall (2141 Major Mackenzie Dr.). Join this free outdoor event to promote the benefits of recreation and parks. There will be music, popcorn, a Zumba class, pickleball demo and more!   
• Concerts in the Park: There are six concerts on select Wednesdays from June 14 to Aug. 2, weather permitting, from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. This year’s schedule will feature professional entertainment for all ages with genres like disco, pop, oldies and rock. The launch concert on Wednesday, June 14 features JUNO Award winner Shawn Desman!
• Canada Day: Celebrate with us on Saturday, July 1 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Boyd Conservation Area (8739 Islington Ave.). The event will feature stage entertainment headlined by Sam Roberts Band, activities, a food zone, a business zone/marketplace with vendor booths and so much more.

For more information and a list of upcoming events, visit vaughan.ca/events.

If you have questions about a City matter, call Service Vaughan at 905-832-2281 or visit vaughan.ca.

For the latest updates, subscribe to Vaughan News and follow the official corporate channels on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.